The Untapped Potential of Stem Cells Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog The Untapped Potential of Stem Cells Oct 22, 2021 Sarah Spivack LaRosa Share Tweet Post It's been 40 years since the first embryonic stem cells were cultivated from mice. Decades later, the applications of regenerative medicine are blossoming. At the center of the excitement is the discovery that adult cells from patients at any age can be taken "back in time" to create a stem cell that is pluripotent—able to generate any cell of the human body. These are called induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. Clive Svendsen, PhD Each cell made this way carries the DNA of the donor. So iPSCs are ideal for creating and testing potential treatments that can be exactly tailored to the individual. "It's like having an avatar of a patient in a dish," says Clive Svendsen, PhD, executive director of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (RMI). At Cedars-Sinai, scientists are investigating the use of stem cells for joint pain, blindness, neurological disorders and to predict the development of cancer. From the lab to the International Space Station, the future of stem cell technology has never been brighter. Soothing Joints Novel orthopaedic therapies such as injections of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are growing in popularity. But surgeons do not always agree on the use or effectiveness of the treatments. Now a center, comprising surgeons and investigators at Cedars-Sinai, is studying which therapies are beneficial and how they work. Stem Cells in Space Is the future of personalized medicine out of this world? Cedars-Sinai is trying to find out by launching special stem cells into space to see if they multiply better there. The RMI is partnering with Space Tango of Lexington, Kentucky, to send iPSCs to the International Space Station. Treating Diseases with Stem Cells Investigators are exploring stem cell therapy to treat myriad diseases. Two major areas of focus at Cedars-Sinai are a form of blindness and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disease. Both courses of study are supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state-funded stem cell research institute. Collectively, the two promising projects have been awarded more than $20 million. Cancer Prognosticator Everyone has BRCA genes that typically protect against cancer, while some people inherit mutated versions of the genes that increase their cancer risk. Women with these genetic changes are at greater risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Women who discover they have these BRCA mutations are faced with agonizing decisions. Scaled-up Immunotherapy A powerful treatment for certain blood cancers is CAR T-cell therapy. During this treatment, some of a patient's immune cells (T cells) are taken out and reprogrammed to fight their cancer. A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is added to the T cells, which helps them recognize and attack the patient's particular disease. Tags Neurology Research Cancer Orthopaedics Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics Research Innovation Technology Clinical Trials Healthcare Accelerator Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility